Stephanie Weaver

Shop staff have raised nearly £3,000 to help a colleague diagnosed with lung cancer.

Catherine Bloomfield, known as Kate to many, has worked at the One Stop shop in Churchill Way, Burton Latimer, for many years.

She has been at this store for years and years so she is very well loved by the customers

Diane Lee

But she has been unable to work after being diagnosed with terminal lung cancer just three months ago.

When her colleagues heard the news, they decided to raise money to show their support and let her know how well loved she is by staff and customers alike.

Store manager Diane Lee said: “We have done quite a lot of fundraising for Kate because she has terminal cancer and she was one of our employees, but also because she has been at this store for years and years so she is very well loved by the customers.

“We have done quite a few things in the store itself.

“We did a heroes fancy dress day and all the One Stop shops in our area got involved.

“It was very well supported by our area manager at the time.

“We are always trying to fundraise for local things but this is something that’s really close to us.

“In total we have raised just under £3,000.”

Another fundraiser held by Kate’s colleagues was a beach party.

Diane added: “We like to do different things as much as we can and raise as much money as we can for the local community.

“Kate is so close to our hearts, and it is a bit of fun in the shop as well.

“Kate is really not well at the moment but she knows how much we care and we wanted to do something for her.”

The money raised by Kate’s colleagues will help buy a television and DVD player for her bedroom for when it is difficult for her to get out of bed as she undergoes her treatment.

But they are hoping the money will stretch further than that.

Diane added: “We are hopefully going to put it towards a holiday that she has always wanted, I think she wants to go on the Orient Express.

“We wanted to collect for her to show her how much we are behind her and we know she has always wanted to go on a holiday like this.”

Diane said Kate pops in to the store quite regularly and she keeps in touch with her too.

Kate is currently undergoing radiotherapy for the cancer.

Diane said: “It’s one of those things that if we could make it go away, we would, but sadly we can’t.”